How To Collect Memories

“So much more than ‘dust-gatherers’, ‘trinkets’ or ‘tat’, a carefully curated collection of personal treasures can become a legacy of a life well lived.

As Prof Mueller explains: ‘No matter how lowly the object that a collector collects, it is just as important to him or her as someone who, for example, collects high end art.

Our collections often also bring us comfort, as our brains return to the moments when we found, bought or were given pieces for them. ‘Very often we might collect something that we can link to a particular event or place we visited,’ says Dr Elena Touroni, a consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic. ‘There is something about tangible objects and their ability to link to a positive memory we’ve had in the past that we’d like to treasure.’

‘Some people collect beautiful objects and display them, but whether they are beautiful or not, they can be organized. They can be put on a shelf and any interested person can be shown them and their background can be talked about.’

Objects can provide a sort of bridge to a particular memory. Their significance can help us hold something positive, or meaningful, in mind and this can be very comforting, especially in uncertain times.’

How to collect what your passionate about

• Think about what makes you feel passionate and excited and base your collection around that. Starting a collection doesn’t have to be expensive. Search in charity shops and at car boot sales for undiscovered treasures. Decide how you’d like to display your collection.

• Whether it’s in a curio cabinet or a special album, giving your collection a dedicated space will make it enjoyable to look through and organize. Find a community with the same interest as you. There are so many online groups for collectors and lots of in-person meet-ups too. Spending time with people who are interested in collecting the same things as you provide an instant connection.

• Ask your friends and family to tell you about their collections. It’s so interesting to hear the memories that people have connected to their collections. Plus having the opportunity to speak passionately about something we care about is good for the soul.”

Read the full article on Psychologies

✨Takeaway: Collecting is all about gathering items that we may connect to a specific event, person or location. Collecting memories can serve as a source of comfort and consolation. We tend to want to cherish tangible things because of their capacity to connect to a memorable moment in the past. It can be incredibly reassuring to keep anything nice or significant in mind because of its significance, especially during difficult times.

✨Reflection: Do you collect anything? If not, what would you be interested in collecting?

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